Prof. Joseph Kost
CV - click here
Research Associates
| Dr. Riki Goldbart Riki received her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering with specialty in Biotechnology, from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at 1991. Riki joined Prof. Kost’s group after concluding undergraduate studies, and received her M.Sc. (1994) and Ph.D (1999) degree under his supervision, studying enzymatically-controlled drug delivery systems responsive to calcium,based on starch and a-amylase. After finishing her Ph.D studies, Riki started to work in the Research and Development department at “Kafrit industries”, Israel (1999-2001). Later, she began her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Brain Attack Research Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, at the University of Louisville, in Louisville, KY, USA, on the role of corticosterone in diabetes-induced brain neuropathy (2002-2004). Since 2004, Riki is working with Prof. Kost as a research associate. E-Mail: goldbart@post.bgu.ac.il |
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| Dr. Tamar Traitel Tamar received her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering with specialty in Biotechnology, from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at 1991. Tamar joined Prof. Kost’s group after concluding undergraduate studies, and received her M.Sc. (1994) and Ph.D (1999) degree under his supervision, studying the characterization of glucose-sensitive insulin release systems in simulated in vivo conditions. After finishing her Ph.D studies, Tamar began her Post-Doctoral Fellowship (1999-2001) at the Chemical Engineering department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on the modeling of ionic hydrogels swelling and characterization of its non-steady state. Since 2001, Tamar is working with Prof. Kost as a research associate. E-Mail: tamluz@post.bgu.ac.il |
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Graduate Students
| Eliz Lewis Eliz received her B.Sc. (2010) and M.Sc. (2013) in Chemical Engineering from Ben GurionUniversity of the Negev and now during the second year of Ph.D. study. Eliz joined Prof. Kost’s group at 2010 during the 4th year of undergraduate studies. In her final research project, which was in collaboration with Dan Peer’s group from Tel Aviv University, worked on developing and characterizing quaternized starch as siRNA delivery platform and ultrasound application to overcome delivery barriers. This project showed promising results and gave the motivation for further academic research in M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies. During her free time, she likes to travel with her husband, Shimon, and practice in sports activities with her friends and these days mainly a mother to two beautiful children, Naama and Rotem. E-Mail: amareli@post.bgu.ac.il |
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| Nitsa Buaron Nitsa received her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at Ben Gurion University (2012). Nitsa's PhD research goal is to develop a pectin based nano-systems for targeted gene therapy as a new approach for treating brain cancer. |
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Rinat Lifshitz Rinat received her B.Sc. (2012) and M.Sc. (2015) in Chemical Engineering from Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Her research project is aimed at developing safe and stable platform approach for topical delivery miRNA for treatment of psoriasis, based on modified starch and ultrasound.
Rinat’s in vivo study on psoriasis resulted in decreased expression of the miR-197 target proteins and in a significant reduction in the psoriatic activity markers.
During her free time, Rinat likes to learn about the relationship between nutrition and health. Moreover she likes to travel and spend time at the beach. These days Rinat enjoys being a mother to a charming young boy, Pele.
E-Mail: rinatlifshiz@gmail.com |
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| Shani Tutai Shani received her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at Ben Gurion University (2015). Shani M.Sc. research goal is the "Development and characterization of polymeric microbubbles as acoustic cavitation enhancers". E-Mail: tutai@post.bgu.ac.il |
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| Elyia Friedland Eliya received his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at 2015. Eliya joined Prof. Kost’s group at 2016, after one year of Rabbinical Studies. His research deals with improving existing herbicides, in purpose that less toxic matter will be use, to the benefit of both the environment and the health of the exterminator. The study uses complexes consisting of polysaccharides that underwent chemical substitution and herbicides being use in today’s market. Creating these complexes should improve the ability of the herbicides to infiltrate into the plant, and into areas of the plant into which they cannot presently infiltrate. E-Mail: eliyafri@gmail.com |
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| Yossi Blitsman Yossi finished the Nanotechnology program in 2017 and received his B.Sc dual degree in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva (BGU). Now Yossi studies towards his M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and interests in Nanobiotechnology, drug delivery and molecular therapy. His Research focuses on "Wound healing with Modified Starch/PIP3 complexes". Yossi also enjoys tennis, movies and hiking. E-Mail: blitsman@post.bgu.ac.il |
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| Nir Yarza Nir Joined Prof. Kost's group in 2018 and is currently pursuing his M.Sc. in Chemical engineering. He received his B.Sc. in both Chemistry and Chemical Engineering with emphasis on Nanotechnology at Ben Gurion University (2017). Nir's interests are in nanobiotechnology, drug delivery and molecular therapy and his Research focuses on the "Characterization and application of RNA complexes with cationic polysaccharides for skin cancer treatment". In his spare time, Nir enjoys hiking, reading and cooking. E-Mail: yarza@post.bgu.ac.il |
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Undergraduate Students
| Eden Bergman Eden joined Prof. Kost's group in 2016 and is currently pursuing her M.Sc. in Chemical engineering. She will receive her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering with emphasis on energy and environment at Ben Gurion University (2018). Eden Participates in the "Meitar" Excellence Program - She is working on her M.Sc. together with her last year in her B.Sc. Eden's interests are in nanobiotechnology and molecular therapy and her Research focuses on the "Ultrasound Effect on Cancerous Vs. Non-cancerous Cells". In her spare time, Eden enjoys reading, movies and theater. E-Mail: bergmaneden@gmail.com |
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| Chen Berebi Chen joined Prof. Kost’s group in 2016 during the 3rd year of her undergraduate studies. In her final research project, which is in collaboration with Dr. Moshe Elkabets's group, she works on targeted delivery of siRNA using Q-starch modified by Cetuximab for Head-Neck cancer therapy. E-Mail: chenbere@post.bgu.ac.il |
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| Itai Adar Itay joined Prof. Kost’s group in 2016 during the 3rd year of his undergraduate studies and is due to receive his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at Ben Gurion University by the end of 2018. In his final research project, he worked on using ultrasound for decomposition of quaternized pectic galactan and plasmid complexes. After graduation, Itay will enlist to the IDF as a part of the Academic Reserve program. In his spare time, Itay likes working out at the gym, hiking, and spending time with his friends. |
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Leah Shimonov
